Question

What are the factors affecting the rate of evaporation?

Answer 1

Dear student, The rate of evaporation of a liquid depends on various factors. These are: 1-Humidity - Humidity is the amount of water vapour present in air. Air can hold only a certain amount of water vapour at a particular temperature. Therefore, if humidity is high, there is no space for more vapour. Hence, the rate of evaporation decreases with increase in humidity. 2-Temperature - With an increase in the temperature, kinetic energy of the particles also increases and more and more particles are able to break through the force of attraction from other particles. Hence, they get converted into vapours. Thus, evaporation increases with temperature. 3-Wind Speed - The rate of evaporation increases with an increase in the wind speed. This is because fast moving air takes away water vapours from the atmosphere, thereby decreasing its amount, and making room for more. As a result, more evaporation occurs. 4-Surface Area - Increase in the surface area increases the rate of evaporation. If the surface area is large, then there will be more molecules on the surface to turn into vapours. Regards